Deputy Minister Ebrahim arrives in Windhoek ahead of SADC Council of Ministers Meeting

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr. Ebrahim I Ebrahim, arrived in Windhoek, Namibia, today, Wednesday 02 March 2011, ahead of SADC Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for 03-04 March 2010.

Deputy Minster Ebrahim’s arrival ahead of SADC Council of Ministers meeting comes within the context of supporting the work programme of the SADC region as a central component of South Africa’s foreign policy.

The Council of Ministers meeting is the first of the year 2011 and will precede the second meeting to be held prior to the SADC Annual Summit to take place in August this year.

A number of meetings were held in preparation for the Council of Ministers meeting which will deliberate on issues arising from various Sectorial Programmes and meetings over the past year including the overall performance of SADC institutions and ongoing work programmes.

Deputy Minister Ebrahim will participate in discussions on progress reports on the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISPD) and the Operationalisation of the Regional Climate Change Centre.

The Council meeting will also consider possible dates for the 2011 SADC Consultative Conference on the impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis which was scheduled for the end of last year but was subsequently postponed.

Furthermore the Council meeting will also deliberate on the process relating to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite arrangement including arrangements for the Second Tripartite Summit to be held in the next few weeks. The objective of these discussions is to establish a Free Trade Area (FTA) encompassing the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs). In this regard an extensive process of national consultations and related work programmes has taken place over the past two years to advance the FTA arrangement.

For further information please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
Private Bag X 152
Pretoria
0001

02 March 2011